A man can seldom—very, very, seldom—fight a winning fight against his training: the odds are too heavy.

Intemperate temperance injures the cause of temperance, while temperate temperance 'helps it in its fight against intemperate intemperance.

In statesmanship get formalities right, never mind about the moralities.

We can’t reach old age by another man’s road.

If you are with the quality, or at a funeral, or trying to go to sleep when you ain’t sleepy—if you are anywheres where it won’t do for you to scratch, why you will itch all over in upwards of a thousand places.

The Moral Sense teaches us what is right, and how to avoid it—when unpopular.

There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless.

When you ascend the hill of prosperity, may you not meet a friend.

To promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing.

Talking of patriotism, what humbug it is; it is a word which always commemorates a robbery.